We caught a few moments with Carol to talk about the importance of being, and representing, a strong woman.

Why is it important for you to portray strong women in your art?

I am committed to self-advocacy. Waiting for others to give me 'permission' to stand in the essence of my agency has never been an option. I create my art through an auto-ethnographic lens. The Women Warriors that I portray end up being self-portraits, somehow. I pay homage to my resilient and courageous matriarchal ancestors. They showed bravery by facing danger and difficulty despite fear. They showed courage by unapologetically standing in their power. Through it all, they remained gentle, kind, loving and emanated joy. This is truly their gift to me.

How do you want to represent them?

These are the artistic representations of the women on whose shoulders I proudly and gratefully stand. Their legacy lives through me, my daughters and generations to come. I hope to inspire young girls to see themselves as beautiful, valuable and capable of achieving anything their heart desires – outside of the 'boxes' that a patriarchal society futilely attempts to put them in. I strive to encourage others to claim their space and live audaciously.

I know you have done a lot of research on matriarchal societies in your art. Does your work attempt to imagine a world of matriarchy?

In a 'perfect' world, the simple answer is yes. Women have birthed and raised nations for millennia. But what we, as a society, must realize is that we function best when everyone's value is considered and included – across the board. And, for what it's worth, Women really hold that power. I will share my favorite quote from the prolific Maya Angelou:

“Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”